Our family has been in Davis County for 40 years – my parents settled in Farmington and now their children are spread as far north as Kaysville and as far south as Centerville.

On Sunday we continued a 30 year family tradition. Our annual fall hike happens on the first Sunday in October in Mueller Park Canyon, but for the first time since its inception the location was altered.

Thanks, government shutdown!

Half of the family made it into the picnic area with little problems, parking below the gate and walking to the picnic tables to have lunch before the hike. When I arrived my family was told we couldn’t drive in – that the park was closed – due to “President Obama.”

This camp ranger was only doing her job, right? So we parked and walked in to where the rest of our family was waiting for us to get by “security.”

Before everyone had made their way to the picnic tables the ranger from the gate arrived and told us we had to leave – really? What harm would it have done to let our family of 15 enjoy the afternoon in the park?

The kids were the most shaken – seven of them under the age of 12 were escorted out of Mueller Park. Because of President Obama? No, we were escorted out because a park ranger felt it was her place to make a political statement.

During this silly government shutdown where both sides are holding their breath to see who will pass out first, why is it that the beauty of Fall is being shut down too?